Russian forces struck the cities of Dnipro and Pavlohrad in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region with ballistic missiles overnight, injuring at least two children, officials reported Thursday. The attacks caused damage to homes and vehicles, adding to a recent surge in strikes targeting civilian infrastructure across the country.
According to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force, the attacks involved a barrage of ballistic missiles. Local media reported explosions in both Dnipro and Pavlohrad, prompting immediate responses from emergency services.
Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, reported that private homes and cars sustained damage in one of the districts of Dnipro. Later, Hanzha confirmed that two children were injured in the city – an infant and a four-year-old girl – and were receiving medical attention.
“An infant and a 4-year-old girl were injured as a result of the Russian attack on Dnipro. The children are receiving all the necessary medical assistance,” Hanzha stated.
The attacks come amid a wider escalation of Russian military activity across Ukraine. Earlier on Thursday, Kyiv was also targeted with ballistic missiles, resulting in a series of powerful explosions. The port city of Odesa was struck by Shahed drones, causing damage to an infrastructure facility, according to reports.
The strikes are part of a pattern of attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, which has intensified in recent months. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale expressed his dismay over the attacks in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv, noting the widespread power outages affecting millions of Ukrainians, particularly vulnerable populations like the elderly, and children. Schmale emphasized that such attacks violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting civilian infrastructure.
UNICEF is scaling up its efforts to provide generators to support essential services, including water utilities and district heating companies, in the face of these ongoing attacks. Since November, the agency has delivered 106 mid- and large-capacity generators across the country, with an additional 149 slated for release in the coming weeks. “Across the country, vital services for children and families are strained and parents are struggling to keep their children warm, prepare hot food, and access regular running water,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. “These generators will help the brave technicians on the ground to keep systems running to keep the heating on, hospitals open and water flowing.”
Separately, a Russian drone strike on Sunday in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed and injured coal mine workers commuting home after their shift, according to UN human rights monitors. The ongoing attacks highlight the severe humanitarian consequences of the conflict and the challenges faced by civilians in accessing basic necessities during the harsh winter months.
